Today we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week it brings with it all manner of thoughts; not

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1 Today we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week it brings with it all manner of thoughts; not least how the week will end and how the following week will begin. 1

2 On this wordle there are a lot of ideas and connections for Palm Sunday some of which have been a focus throughout Lent, such as preparation, journey, blessings, Bible, text & donkey. 2

3 Two words that I cannot find listed are Lent (as in borrowed) or Gift (as in something given). Yet in the passage this is what occurred from different people within the Palm Sunday narrative.. 3

4 An unknown and unnamed stranger lent Jesus a donkey this was a valuable asset then; not everyone had a donkey if you owned one you were one of the privileged few a little like if you owed a car in the 1950s or early 1060s. 4

5 And like with a car in the 1950s/60s (and now) lending your donkey was a major thing to do. We have no record of how or when the animal was returned but it must has been because Jesus is no thief, that was Judas, not Jesus. 5

6 The passage tells us that the disciples put their cloaks onto the donkey. Here we have to set aside our understanding of what their cloak may have been. 6

7 The simlāh (/sɪmˈlɑː/ sim-lah), [ was the heavy outer garment or shawl (cloak) of various forms. It consisted of a large rectangular piece of rough, heavy woollen material, crudely sewed together so that the front was unstitched and with two openings left for the arms. Flax is another possible material.(source: Wikipedia) This cloak also served as the only blanket they would have it was multi purpose out of necessity. The disciples gave one of the few items of clothing they would ever have, given out of the necessity of Jesus. 7

8 They gave their shouts of Hosanna The crowds had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate, to celebrate the Passover; to seek God s salvation. What did they give of themselves? 8

9 It could be argued that they gave very little; They gave enthusiastic shouts imploring Jesus to do something (this we will look at next) They waved and placed before Jesus palm branches that they torn down from the trees along the way. This was an act of defiance or protest against the Roman oppressors as the people were reacting the time the Temple was reclaimed from Greek occupation. It was a snub to their oppressors. 9

10 At this point in the narrative, we need to take a step aside and backwards. Mark uses a literary technique where he puts the question in one passage and the answer in the following one. Jesus asked the blind beggar the question in Mark 10: 51, but the question is also given a broader application to the crowds (and to us) 10

11 Hosanna is the answer to Jesus question in Mark 10:51, spoken in Aramaic, of What do you want me to do for you? Why is Hosanna an answer we may ask? That doesn t make sense does it? It doesn t quite make sense with our English translation, but in the original Aramaic that was the spoken language of the time, Hosanna means Save (us) we pray. And it was a quote from Psalm 118:

12 There s no more detail of what the people were asking Jesus to save them from; there are a lot of possibilities, here just a few suggestions; The Roman occupation The corrupt practices of the High Priest and his family The extortion of the money changers The religious burdens of the Pharisees The Samaritans Their sin? 12

13 Jesus answered their cry to be saved and ours. The cry save us is the plea for salvation. Whether the crowds realised what they were asking for is doubtful. They would not have realised that their salvation freedom from all oppression and sin would be paid by Jesus by the giving up of his life. 13

14 Beyond the Cross was Easter Day when Jesus through His Resurrection proved to a doubting world, that He had conquered death and that all who trust have Eternal Life. 14

15 This is the where it gets personal it always is with Jesus. Would you want to give your shout of Save me/us we pray from whatever maybe the tough stuff in your life? Or a reaffirmation of your personal faith in Jesus? Or give whatever brings you comfort? Or your most prized possession if Jesus said may I borrow this? Would you really offer it without asking (or thinking about) when you d get it back? Our would you simply say, Here I am 15

16 The donkey owner, the disciples and the crowds only got one opportunity to respond as they each chose to do that day. We are blessed because we live after the events, we know what happened then and since; we have each new God given day to choose to live for Jesus; to cast our very selves before Jesus sure of His love, His compassion and salvation for each of us and for every part of our lives. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Romans 10:13. 16